Tackle block



R. CVKING Nov. 26, 1946.

TACKLE BLOCK Filed-Sept. 26, 1944 nrrom/Er v IN V EN TOR. Farm [1 Z? Patented Nov. 26, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application September 26, 1944, Serial No. 555,805

5 Claims.

This invention relates, to tackle such, for example, as is used in loweringand hoisting a ships boat from or to its davits or in lowering and hoisting a staging down or up a wall structure and relates more particularly to blocks for use in such tackle.

Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part hereinafter and in part will be obvious, herefrom, or may be learned by Practice with the invention, the same being, realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention consists in the novel parts, constructions, arrangements, combinations and improvement herein shown and described.

The accompanying drawing, referred to herein and constituting a part hereof,'il1ustrates one'embodiment of the invention, and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

Objects of this invention are to make it possible for an occupant of a ships boat, stagin or like heavy structure to lower the structure with tackle in complete safety and subject to his full control under conditions requiring the tackle fall to be paid out from a position in or on the structure; and, to combine-in a. single unit in a commercially practical, novel and useful fashion the normal mechanism of a conventional block and a braking mechanism for snubbing and locking a tackle fall. 1

The above and further objects and novel features of this invention will more fully appear from the following detailed description when the same is read in connection with the accompanying drawing. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawing is for the purpose of illustration onlyand is not intended to define the, limits of the invention, reference being primarily had, for this latter purpose to the appended claims.

Of the drawing: Fig. l is a view in top plan of a preferred embodiment of this invention; Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of the embodiment of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view in rear elevation of the embodi- .ment of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a View in front elevation of the embodiment of Fig. 1 with the access door in an open position; and

Fig. 5 is a view in section 55 of Fig. 3.

In general, this invention is a block for use with tackle in hoisting and lowering objects, the block being providedwith a rope channel through lw hich the tackle fall is adapted to pass and lie in taken along the line slidable frictional engagement with the block and having suitable provision for clamping the fall in the block so as to brake the ease of relative movement between the block and fall, or to stop such movement, at will. Preferably, the block is so fashioned as to permit ready access to the channel throughout its length and to facilitate the threading of the fall through the channel.

It will be understood that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description as well are exemplary and explanatory butare not restrictive of the invention.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawing, there is depicted a block H1 in accordance with this invention, the block having the block shell or frame I l encasing the usual groovedpulleys or sheaves lZ-and having the usual eye member l3 from which an object (not shown) to be hoisted or lowered, is adaped to be suspended.

The frame I I is preferably a metal casting, such a Everdur forexample, providing a structure of ample strength and durability for use under conditions of severe usage and has the eye member l3 cast integral therewith as is best depicted in Fig. 3. It will be understood that the eye member may be in the form of a strap or hook and may be journalled in the shell so as to, swivel in respect thereof in accordance with known designs.

The pulleys I! may be of wood, or metal and are journalled for rotation in the frame ll upon an axle I4 by which they are carried in side-by-side relation, each being suitably spaced from its adjacent pulley by one of a number of spacing partitions [5, preferably integral with the fram ll. Although three pulleys are shown it will be understood that the block may be of the single, double or triple type and in general that the block may be provided with any number of pulleys as may be required.

The axle I4 is provided at one end with an enlarged portion forming a head I6 and is removably'lodged in the frame ll transversely of the partitions l5 in coaxial bearings formed in the partitions l5 and the frame I l.

The head !6 restricts axial movement of the axle l4 in one direction in the block, movement in the opposite direction being restricted by a pin ll passing through the axle externally of the frame H at the opposite, end of the axle. The head I6 is preferably non-circular and is lodged in a complementary recess [8 in a thickened section 19 of the frame at one side of the bank of pulleys l5, the thickened section being sometimes hereinafter termed the snubbing section of the frame. Rotation of the axle I4 s prevented by its non-circular head shape in action with the recess H3.

The snubbing section IQ of the frame H as embodied is provided with a channel havin an inlet opening 2! at the top and an outlet opening 22 at the bottom. The channel is of an area transversely of its longitudinal axis sufficient to accommodate snugly the fall (not shown) of a tackle of which the block is to form a part so that the free run of the fall through the block will be restricted and in effect, snubbed. Preferably, the channel 20 is longitudinally curvilinear, at least in part, so as to enhance the frictional resistance offered by the channel to the ,fall of the tackle in transit therethrough. As here preferably embodied, the snubbing section 19 is of substantially rectangular contour and of a thickness longitudinally of the axle l4 commensurate with the diameter of the tackle rope or cable with which it is to be used. The outer face 23 of the 'snubbing section I9 is a plane surface paralleling the pulleys l2 and is recessed to form the open channel 24 extending from top to bottom of the braking section, the channel 20 being substantially U -shaped in cross-section with its end openings 2! and 22 preferably coaxial and with its intervening portion generally sinusoidal in shape so as to provide a built-in braking or sn-ubbing action to the free run of the fall therein.

Means are provided for capping the rope channel 20 so as to retain the tackle fall therein in normal course and yet permit access to the channel for the purpose of installing or removing the fall, at will. As here preferably embodied, a cover plate 24 is hingedly mounted on the frame I i by means of upper and lower hinges and 26, respectively, extending laterally from the snubbing section i9, so as to be movable to and from a position in register with the channel face 23 of the snubbing section l9. To this end, thecover plate is formed with a plane surface 21, Fig. 4, paralleling and engaging the channel face 23 in the closed position as is best depicted in Figs. 1 and 2.

Means are provided for locking the cover plate 24 in the closed position. Th embodied locking means is of a construction enabling quick release of the cover plate. As here preferably embodied, the frame H is provided with upper and lower hinge lugs 28 and 29, respectively, paralleling each other and extending laterally from the side of the braking section op Qsite that carrying the hinges 25 and 26. A hinge pin journalled in the lugs 28 and 29 carries a threaded locking bolt 3| extending at a right angle to the pin 30, the bolt 31 carrying a threaded wing nut 32 thereon for coaction with upper and lower looking lugs 33 and 34, respectively, carried by the cover plate 24. The lugs 33 and 34 are suitably arranged on the cover plate 24 so that in the closed position of the cover plate as in Figs. 1 and 2, the locking bolt 31 may be swung into position between the lugs, the locking nut screwed down against the lugs 33 and 34 and the cover plate clamped securely against the channel face 23.

Means are provided in conjunction with the braking section IQ for applying a braking effort of any desired degree to the tackle fall in addition to that provided by the snubbing section I9. The embodied braking means is manually operable and is capable of stopping relative movement between the block and fall. or slowing such movement or of freeing the fall for movement without restraint except for the friction between the fall and walls of the channel 20. To this end, the embodied braking means is designed to impart pressure on the fall within the block in any convenient fashion. As here preferably embodied, parallel lugs 48 and 4| extend downwardly from the bottom face of the braking section IE3 at opposite sides of the outlet opening 22. The lugs 40 and 4| are apertured to receive headed anchor pins 42 and 43, respectively, upon which are slidably mounted a pair of clamping or braking members 44 and 45 with the lugs 40 and 4| therebetween. The anchor pins 42 and 43 serve to support the members 44 and 45 for limited movement toward and away from each other and each is secured against dislodgement as by means of a cotter pin 46.

The clamping members 44 and 45 are recessed on their respective inner faces immediately below the opening 22 to provide shallow seats 41 and 48, respectively, having inclined side walls, for frictionally engaging the tackle fall when threaded between the clamping members.

A clamping screw 49 having aknurled head 50 and a threaded shank 5| passes through an open-- ing 52 at one side of the recess 41 in the member 44 into screw threaded engagement with the member 45 in an opening 53 provided for the purpose therein.

Illustrative of the application of this invention, the block 50 may be installed in lieu of the lower block of a conventional two block tackle. The tackle fall is passed through the braking section I9 of the block so as to lie in the channel '20 with the free end of the fall issuing from the lower opening 22. This free end is threaded between the clamping members 44 and 45 :so as to lie within the recesses 47 and 48, and the cover member 24 is closed and locked by means of the locking mechanism 3l'32. The clamping members 44 and 45 are then tightened on the fall by screwing up on the clamping screw 49 until the fall is locked against upward movement through the braking section 1'9.

With a load applied to the eye 13, the load will be supported in a given position until the locking screw 49 is backed off, thereby releasing the clamping members 44 and 45 suflioiently to permit the fall to pay out through the block. Accordingly, in lowering a ships boat, for example, an occupant can effect the lowering without requiring assistance from the deck. The rate of lowering will be under complete control through simple adjustment of the locking screw 49.

It is apparent that where the load is to be hoisted, the fall can be freed in the block by opening the cover door 24 to facilitate paying the fall between the locking members 44 and 45 as it comes into the boat or onto the staging, Or the like as the case maybe. a

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific mechanisms shown and described but departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the accompanying claims without departing from the principles of the invention and without sacrificing its chief advantages.

What I claim is:

1. A tackle block having a rope channel in its sheave frame through which the tackle fall is adapted to pass; said channel being curvilinear through at least a portion of its length, a cover member movable in and out of position over said channel for capping said channel; and, adjusttackle fall, said section'having a planar surface 0 5 able braking means carried by said frame for adjustably braking the run of said fall through said channel.

2. A tackle block having a thickened-portion integral with its sheave frame and at one side of e the sheave bank of said block; an open rope channel in said thickened section through which the tackle fall is adapted to pass, a cover member movable into andout of position over said channel for capping said channel; and, braking means carried by said sheave frame at one end of said channel for braking the run of said fall through said channel and means for varying the pressure of said braking means on said fall.

3. A tackle block having a rope channel through which a tackle fall is adapted to pass, a 7 cover member movable in and out of position over said channel for capping said channel; and, braking means at one end of said channel for applying a braking effort to said fall, said braking means comprising braking members carried by the block frame between which said fall is adapted to pass, recesses in said members in o position to each other providing a brakin section for engagement with said fall, and means for moving said members relative to each other to apply a braking effort to said fall. c

4. A tackle block having a thickened portion of its frame forming a snubbing section for the portion extending transversely of the sheave axis of the block, said planar surface portion being recessed from top to bottom to provide a substantially U-shaped open top channel in which the tackle fall is-adapted to'run, said channel 35 having a cross-sectional area transversely of its longitudinal axis such that said-fall will be substantiallyv snugly engaged by the channel walls and be snubbed thereby; a cover member hingedly mounted on said snubbing section for movementinto and out of a closed position in which said channel is capped thereby; locking means carried by said thickened section for securing said cover member in its closed position; lugs extending from said snubbing section at opposite I by braking said fall.

5; A' tackle block comprising a unitary metal casting forming a sheave section, a snubbing sec- .tion at one side of said sheave section and a loadin a complementary recess in said snubbing section; a metal closure member for said channel; and, adjustable braking means carried by said casting below the outlet opening of said channel for braking the run of said fall through said channel.

RENO C. KING. 

